(CNN) - Mitt Romney promised Monday to restore the traditional U.S. foreign policy dating to the end of World War II, based on exerting influence through military and economic power, in a major speech two weeks before he debates President Barack Obama on international issues.

In the address at the Virginia Military Institute, Romney argued that Obama is failing to provide the global leadership needed and expected by the rest of the world, especially key allies like Israel.

soundoff(64 Responses)

@Marty, FL
Romney has at least 17 Bush neo-con advisers on his foreign policy, which is indicative of more wars and miring in foreign national building. No thanks.

Your right , they just won't show there faces. It's as if Donald Rumsfeld who has kept a low profile since leaving office in the midst of the unpopular Iraq War has returned with a face lift !

October 8, 2012 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |

GI Joe

The next war(s) will require a draft of men AND women - there are not enough volunteer.

Have children?? TUFF.

The mighty war machine Eisenhower warned against is what Mitt is counting on. Mark my word.

October 8, 2012 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |

sara

Too bad Willard doesn't know that we are NOT the world's protectors and Syria and the rest Need to fight for their OWN freedoms. Iraq's War has ended, Bin Laden is dead and the Arab Spring will continue until those people want democracy for themselves. But, if this man is elected more sons and daughters will be fighting yet another war. Same policies of the past with the past war mongers as his advisers.

Willard has no foreign policy experience and facts are NOT his strong suit. Obama/Biden 2012

October 8, 2012 12:40 pm at 12:40 pm |

Deborah

Note when Mitt Romney says that he will assert a 'strong' role, he means increase and exacerbate international tensions, create war, and increase the spending he claimed he was going to cut...on war. So he claimed in the debate that 'Obamacare' was not 'so critical' that the US should have to borrow money off China for it. But sending other peoples children to the front line under the guise of 'strong leadership' is worth it?
America, if you want world peace, and the ME top stop hating you, vote Obama/Biden 2012.

October 8, 2012 12:46 pm at 12:46 pm |

You're too Stupid! for me to Math it out for you

I'm so sick of this draft dodging, war mongering high-class low-life. Remember: you reap what you sow if you vote for this guy. I'm tired of this Republican party. Crazy people, crazy talk. I remember very well the fear mongering of 2004. Now it's fear mongering of the economy, too. Either it's not what a real recovery looks like per Romney (too slow?) or it's cooked books (too fast?) Just go away already. Gov. Romney. Are you apart of the 2009 IRS Amnesty???? I can't say you are, but your trusty followers can't say you're not.

October 8, 2012 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |

Mona

Romney's speech was great! This is what true leadership looks like. I'm sure he can accomplish his goals without reinstating the draft, however, all you weak-kneed scaredy cats are pathetic. What happened to the home of the brave? You know, death isn't the worse thing that can happen to you. Maybe if Americans could find some courage, even a small amount of our ancestors' dosage, we may still have a chance.

October 8, 2012 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

Charles

It is unfortunate that Mitt R. is beating the drums of war again. We are still in Afghanistan that started more than a decade . America has been at peace for the past three years but they are planning for another war and only God knows where Romney is taking this country to because he does not give specifics in what he says.

Romney is blaming Obama's adminisration on Syria. It is obvious Romney does not follow what is happening at the United Nations. Obama is working with the world leaders. Romney wants to become anothe Bush who will take this nation into an unjust war or wars. Be careful who you vote for.

I'm sure he will make his five sons join the military and help to police the world.

October 8, 2012 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |

Treesha

There will be no need for war if we had a president who exhibited real leadership. Middle East countries only recognize strength - they respect it and will leave us alone. And, y'know, sometimes evil does need to be fought. ROMNEY 2012.

October 8, 2012 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

david

well! i guess that means that the romney sons are going into the military to help dad! NOT!

October 8, 2012 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

Jill

The U.S. does have a strong role in world affairs. If Romney thinks otherwise, he is living in the hinterland. The influence of 17 neocon advisers on foreign policy is telling now. Mitt and the neocons ... the Mitteocons.

October 8, 2012 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

mike electrician

Hmm, I thought this guy wanted to reduce spending? But I guess that is just in regards to our "massive" spending for educational programming on PBS. Another chicken hawk who is courageous enough to send other peoples sons to die. Mittens, war should be the last option, not the first. Tax cuts for the wealthy, intervening into another country with our military, wow, sure gotta love Dubya Reduex. I guess he already forgot his "if we have to borrow money from China, then we won't do it" Or as we all know, another MITTENS flip flop. This guy flips around more than a freshly caught trout.

October 8, 2012 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |

HOLY TIGHTY WHITIES WILLARD

Obama's is basing his entire foreign policy "strength" on the fact that when they asked if they could go get Bin Laden, he did what any sane president would do and said yes.
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Your Rovian tactics will not work. When the President said he'll go into Pakistan to get OBL, Sen. McCain called him naive. For this empty suit Willard to say he would have made the same call is BS and you know it. Let me frank with you. Anyone who voted for that God forsaken war in Iraq did not get my vote. The person who voted against that war got my vote and he is now the POTUS. It's all about judgement and Willard clearly has bad judgement insisting on war with Iran, Syria, calling Russia our biggest geopolitical foe, etc.

October 8, 2012 01:07 pm at 1:07 pm |

2020

Strong role in the world. Romney never learns. THAT IS HOW BUSH CHENEY GOT AMERICA IN RUIN putting their noses where they don't belong

Romney is such a slug doing and saying anything just to win. Can US get to this low?

October 8, 2012 01:11 pm at 1:11 pm |

maf

@ borderless, oh my, having a bad day???
You are spouting simply weird strange rhetoric that is boundless (if not borderless)!
Try something constructive to add to the discourse.
You seem to have a real bug about how the Bin Laden event came down. Are you unhappy that Bin Laden is no longer with us or are you a conspiracy theorist that maybe the Seals didn't get him?
Support Romney all you want, you likely can't be conscripted anyway (too old) but would happily send young men and women into combat just because. . . I happily will nullify your vote by voting for President Obama. All is takes is one to one voting to counter your negative. Get out to vote Democrats!! Unseat incumbent Republicans!!

October 8, 2012 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

Chumlee

This is truly a face of a psychopath

October 8, 2012 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

strangerq

So much for the Romney debate bounce ->

Obama back up by 5 in Gallop poll.

Why?

Yes his debate 'performance' was bad.

But all Romney did was lie.

Now Romney's lies are catching up to him.

Even Rasmussen's GOP poll shows Romney's debate bounce fading.

Romney back to losing in every poll, just like before the debates.🙂

October 8, 2012 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

onlyfacts

This is backwards as a society,as a human race, as a safe world. I hope this idiot is just spewing his typical crap to his brainless followers. How could any sane person agree with this guy? Lord, Ala, Buda, Santa, someone please help!

October 8, 2012 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

Ind.

Whe you have a president that supports terrorists (Libya a perfect example) what does anyone expect but anarchy?

October 8, 2012 01:16 pm at 1:16 pm |

Paul_I

Romney pines for the days right after WW2 when the United States GDP was over 75% of the worldwide GDP of all countries, and the US military was the only major fighting force that was not devastated or involved in a civil war. In those times, we could pretty much do whatever we wanted internationally (and call it leadership.) The world is vastly different today.

October 8, 2012 01:18 pm at 1:18 pm |

Ind.

Mr. anything but transparent MUST GO!!

October 8, 2012 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

Marty, FL

Mona,
Home of the brave is using our intelligence to isolate attacks on terrorist leaders, as Pres. Obama's leadership has done.

Not going back to failed Bush neo-con disasters with Romney.

Obama/Biden 2012–Forward

October 8, 2012 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |

The REAL Truth...

@Mona – Romney's speech was great! This is what true leadership looks like.
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The speech may have been great for the believers (his debate came across as a terrier yapping at the big dog, spouting every lying stat he could muster to make himself look good. He has since backtracked on much of it, surprise, surprise), but I'm still trying to figure out why is it that Willard's "follow me, I'll be right behind you" and "trust us, elect me and I'll fix it" rhetoric is being bought into by so many on the right!